BUT, this chart excludes “3 pedestrian light rail vehicle (LRV)-related deaths, which are not routinely reported to SWITRS, to ensure comparability between data,” whatever that means.

I think it means that if the SFMTA runs you over, it shouldn’t be counted as a San Francisco traffic fatality, even though, of course, it would be.

And then, what about deaths from Caltrain? Are those counted? And what about deaths on freeways, like the I-80 and the 101? I don’t think these are counted either.

And what about deaths from regular SFMTA buses. I suspect there’s resistance to tallying all those up, for whatever reason. For example, in 2014, somebody got hit by a westbound #38 bus on Geary near Pierce(?) and that didn’t make it on the official “San Francisco Police Department Summary Reports on Fatal Traffic Collisions” report for that calendar year.

Speaking of which, I don’t think the SFPD makes that report/makes that report available to the media anymore, for whatever reason.

Anyway, that’s at least 41 traffic deaths in one fiscal year – that seems very high. Perhaps it’s the highest ever, IDK.

Mmmm, what if the Dear Leader of North Korea sent word to the Traffic Commissioner of Pyongyang about how all traffic deaths would be eliminated by a certain date in the near future? I’m sure the Commish would say that this goal will certainly be achieved, even though the commish him/herself would certainly know that such a thing is impossible IRL. Otherwise, the commish might get shot, right?

Well, no SFGov workers ever get shot by City Hall, but they act as if risking a promotion is like risking getting executed, so they’re all, “Yes, there’s a chance that Vision Zero will work,” but by the year 2024 and all years after that, forever, seriously? Isn’t there some obligation on SFGov employees to admit that this goal would be desirable, but that it’s, of course, impossible? IDK.

Not saying that Vision Zero, whatever that phrase means, is causing this increase, just saying that Vision Zero, which is basically old wine in new bottles, doesn’t really have an effect on the statistics.

This metric measures the number of traffic fatalities occurring in the City and County of San Francisco. Every year in San Francisco, about 30 people lose their lives and over 200 people are seriously injured while travelling on city streets. Vision Zero, adopted as a city policy in 2014, is San Francisco’s commitment to eliminating traffic deaths on our streets by 2024. Through building better and safer streets, educating the public on traffic safety, enforcing traffic laws and adopting policy changes, we can save the lives of all road users—people who walk, bike, drive, or ride public transit. Achieving Vision Zero requires leadership and commitment from City agencies, elected officials, community stakeholders, the public and the private sector to find the right solutions for San Francisco.”

“At today’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting, Board President London Breed will introduce a drafting request for legislation creating a permanent city Reward Fund to pay up to $250,000 to those who provide information leading to an arrest and conviction in an unsolved murder case in San Francisco.

President Breed released the following statement:

“In the past six years, San Francisco has averaged about 50 homicides per year. Each one is a tragedy. Each one is a lost son, sister, father, or friend. Each one never should have happened. And each one deserves our every effort to bring justice.

We are, according to most metrics, the wealthiest big city in the country. And with that wealth comes some obligations. As the Bible says: ‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.’ When it comes to the worst crimes our city faces, we should put our wealth to use—both to help the families of victims and get the most violent offenders off the streets.

The city has at times offered rewards in specific cases. But it’s done on an ad hoc basis, and there’s no established fund or consistent process. This can lead to the perception that some cases are more important than others, which they are not.

I am proposing a permanent city fund to provide rewards of up to $250,000 to anyone who brings information that leads to an arrest and conviction in an unsolved murder case. The legislation will establish specific criteria, because in many cases our police department solves cases without the need for a reward.

So the fund should be limited to homicide cases that have gone unsolved for one year, in which the police have exhausted all investigative leads, and for which the Chief of Police has, in his or her discretion, determined that public assistance and a reward is necessary. The Reward Fund should be subject to annual appropriations with money from previous years carrying forward.

All in all, this will require a small amount of taxpayer money, because—thankfully—we’re talking about a small number of cases. But in those cases, we should be doing everything we can. And in those cases, this reward can make a world of difference.

San Francisco actually already has one such witness reward fund. It’s in Section 640 of the Police Code, and it deals with cases of people pulling false fire alarms. If we can do it for fire alarms, surely we can—and should—do it for unsolved murders.”

This is the now-standard community meeting that’s been promised for each and every SFPD officer-involved shooting.

And, per Eric Mar‘s office, our District One Supervisor will be on hand to ask and answer questions.

[UPDATE, October 4th, 2011

“Dear Neighbors,

Please join me in attending a Police Community meeting tonight. Yesterday morning at 7:30am, Richmond Station officers responded to a call of a stabbing on the 600 block of Funston Street. Officers encountered a wounded victim outside the home and was told the suspect was still inside. As they entered the home they found an elderly woman with life threatening injuries and began to render aid. The suspect, armed with two knives charged at the officers and an Officer Involved Shooting occurred. The incident is being investigated. Both the elderly woman and the suspect died from their injuries.A community meeting will be held tonight, October 4, 2011, and Police Chief Greg Suhr will address concerns and answer questions about the incident. The meeting will be held at the Richmond Rec Center located at 251 18th Avenue, between California and Clement Sts at 6:30pm on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

“Officer Involved Shooting at the 600 blk of Funston Ave. 11-107 Posted Date: 10/3/2011 On October 3, 2011 at approximately 7:18 a.m., San Francisco Police responded to a call of a stabbing at the 600 block of Funston Ave. Officers and paramedics arrived on the scene and discovered a 78 year old Chinese male victim in front of the residence bleeding profusely. The victim suffered a stab wound to his hand and forearm.

Officers and paramedics immediately rendered medical aid in attempt to control the bleeding. The officers continued up the stairway where they found a 78 year old Chinese female victim with what the officers believed to be life threatening stab wounds to the body. As officers were trying to pull the victim to safety and get medical treatment for the female victim, they were confronted by a 44 year old Chinese male suspect.

The suspect had two knives as he advanced towards the officers. One officer used an Extended Range Impact Weapon (ERIW) in an effort to subdue the suspect. The ERIW proved to be ineffective. A cover officer discharged his firearm on the advancing suspect and stopped the deadly threat. Officers continued to search the house for additional suspects and victims and found a 50 year old Chinese female hiding in the back of the house inside a locked bedroom, she was uninjured.

All victims and suspect are related. The suspect was the son of both 78 year old victims, and the uninjured female found by officers at the scene, was the sister of the suspect.

At approximately, 9:39 a.m. the suspect was pronounced dead at the hospital. The 78 year old female victim was also pronounced dead a few minutes later at the hospital at 9:41 a.m

This is an active ongoing police investigation by the San Francisco Police Department’s Homicide Detail, Internal Affairs Division, District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Citizens Complaints.

There will be a community meeting pertaining to the officer involved shooting tomorrow, October 4, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. Location will be at the Richmond Recreational Center at 251 18th Ave between Clement and California.”

Giant AIDS Ribbon on San Francisco’s Twin Peaks Commemorates the 30th Year of HIV/AIDS

SAN FRANCISCO, May 24, 2011 –For the first time ever, a massive red ribbon appears on the side of Twin Peaks to mark the 30th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS in the United States. Organized by San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the ribbon was installed by more than 100 community volunteers to honor San Francisco’s legacy in fighting HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness of the importance of knowing your HIV status and getting proper care.

“This ribbon is a bold reminder to the entire world that HIV/AIDS is still an issue that urgently needs our attention,” said San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Neil Giuliano. “We have made tremendous progress in the fight against the disease over the past 30 years, but our work is not done. We believe even one new infection is one too many, and we will continue to give people the information and services they need to remain healthy and take care of the people they love.”

Every day in San Francisco, two more people are newly infected with HIV. More than 56,000 people are infected every year nationwide. Alarmingly, rates of new HIV infections are rising among gay and bisexual men nationwide, the only risk group for which this is the case. San Francisco AIDS Foundation conceived the red ribbon to reinforce its commitment to improving the health of the community through increased HIV testing and prevention efforts, and vital services that ensure HIV-positive people can access treatment and receive high-quality care.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of the virus that would be known as AIDS on June 5, 1981. San Francisco was the first city in the country to experience epidemic levels of the disease. Today there are close to 16,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco.

“San Francisco has always been a pioneer when it comes to HIV/AIDS,” said San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener. “From the early days of the disease, the city responded with courage to save lives and change the course of the epidemic. Today the ribbon on Twin Peaks is an extension of that legacy and sends an important message that San Francisco will always be a leader in the fight against HIV.”

“I am so proud to be part of this historic effort to raise awareness,” said volunteer Mike Shaw, who helped to install the ribbon. “This ribbon is a reminder that in San Francisco we take care of everyone in our community. We have always been a compassionate city, and that will never change.”

The ribbon is made out of 25 tarps. It is 225 feet long and 165 feet wide, and is visible from points across San Francisco and the Bay Area. It is scheduled to remain on Twin Peaks until June 19th.

About San Francisco AIDS Foundation

San Francisco AIDS Foundation works to end the HIV epidemic in the city where it began, and eventually everywhere. Established in 1982, our mission is the radical reduction of new infections in San Francisco because we refuse to accept HIV as inevitable. Through education, advocacy and direct services for prevention and care, we are confronting HIV in communities most vulnerable to the disease.

This is the lane that goes through St. Mary’s between Stanyan and Shrader:

Click to expand

The owner of the white Hyundai (CA 6HOT660) resides in the Chinatown / Nob Hill area, one might assume.

And here’s one of the cars that driver Jose Jimenez hit on Clayton near Fell Street when he was traveling from the hit and run scene to St. Mary’s. This two-ton minivan was pushed a foot or two so the impact speed must have been fairly high:

(My Canon 1D Mark Whatever SLR died an early death at 140,000 clicks* possibly due to the fact that I wasn’t ascared of a little (or a lot) of rain. Nowadays I’m def. skittish, but no matter,) you can always count on famous photographer David Yu to be on the scene rain or dry.

As he was last Saturday night in Chinatown and North Beach and SoMA and the Financh and all over.

*200,000 was the expected number of clicks I believe I was owed. ($300 minimum for a new shutter.) OTOH, my 5D Mark I has probably already exceeded its expected shutter life so I s’pose I shouldn’t complain too much. Living on borrowed time tho.

(Don’t even take along a brolly to the parade – you’ll stay dry this year, most likely, Gaia willing…) [UPDATE: The Internet MIC just came by my house and tore up my prognosticator license. From now on, I’ll leave this kind of stuff to the experts.]

“Teresa Scanlan wins the Miss America Pageant 2011. As the competition comes to a close on January 15, 2011 in Las Vegas. Nevada; International News sites report. Miss Scanlan bested 53 aspirants who vied for the $50,000.00 scholarship prize and from sixteen gorgeous women, who had participated in the finals.”